Untitled Sermon (2)

STUDY OF “MARKS” OF DISCIPLESHIP – Lesson #1 - The Way of the Cross

Introduction:

Q: What is a disciple?

A: A follower of someone else.

Q: Why would you want to follow Jesus as His disciple?

A:

            As we begin this study of the book of Mark, we focus on the teachings of Jesus about discipleship. We will see who can be a disciple, what the requirements of discipleship are and how to become a disciple. Because the words disciple and follower are interchangeable, we will use “follower” from here on out.

            Though the rest of the lessons will be through the book of Mark, verse by verse, for this first lesson, we will look at Mark 8:31-38. This is because in these verses we find the essence of what following Jesus is, and the greatest objection to following Jesus. In other words, if we cannot make the commitment Jesus sets out for all disciples here, there is no reason for us to go any further.

SCRIPTURE: Mark 8:31-38

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

          Before we talk about a cross, we must see a vital point about Jesus message of his impending death on the cross.

Q:        What is Jesus’ prediction in verse 31?

A:        That not only would he die, BUT HE WOULD ALSO RISE AGAIN.

            This is a lesson we must always remember because it gives us hope for the hard things he has to say next. 

Jesus NEVER spoke about His death without connecting it to His resurrection. In “The Christ of the Gospels”, author J.W. Shepherd points out – Ín the midst of the black cloud of His tragic death, He placed the rainbow of His resurrection>”

Where is the hope in this lesson? If Jesus dies and is resurrected, so too, will his followers be resurrected, who take up a cross themselves.

            But, the disciples could not see this. They refused to look past the idea that Jesus would die on the cross of shame.  Shepherd further points out – “But, the disciples saw ONLY the blackness of the clouds and NOT their silver lining.”  This was a general attitude of most people. That is why they rejected Him. Unfortunately, that is why we still reject taking up our own crosses.

            Because the disciples rejected the message of Jesus’ death, they missed the message of His resurrection and so failed him at the time He needed their support most.

Q:        Do we understand that we will only join in His resurrection if we accept His cross?

            Because of this mistaken view of Jesus’ mission, Peter attempts to correct Jesus as if he knew far better than Jesus what was best. And so, foolishly declares he will not allow it. “He would have Jesus save himself at any cost”. But oh what a terrible move by Peter for this is exactly what Satan tempted Jesus with in the wilderness; by changing stones to bread and thus avoiding his mission to save us through the cross. Now wonder Jesus said, “get behind me Satan!”

BELL RINGER FOR LESSON #1: May we never attempt to show Jesus a way that we prefer instead of and over his perfect way of discipleship.

            We see that though Jesus takes Peter aside at first, he then turns to a crowd that was present and says for all to hear his rebuke. This tells us that Jesus’ rebuke is not only for Peter, but for all followers, up to our day. Why such a harsh rebuke? He wants His followers to know that anyone who denied the cross, either for Him or later, themselves, is thinking with the flesh and not the Spirit of God. The irony of this scene that Peter had just given the Great Confession, identifying Jesus as the Messiah, God’s Son. The implication is that no one who wishes to follow Jesus can have it both ways. If I claim to believe that Jesus is my Lord and Savior, I am committing myself to following his path of discipleship, whether I like the direction of that path or not.

            Don’t miss the play on words here. After Peter had made his confession, Jesus calls him a foundation stone of the Church. Now he calls him a stumbling stone to the Messiah. Peter had taken the very place of Satan by attempting, as Satan had, to get Jesus to deviated from the course God had assigned. This placed Peter in the hands of Satan to be used by him. I would think no one would wish to be in that position.

            How did Peter come to this attitude? By thinking like the popular culture around him instead of thinking like his Master.  What Jesus is telling any who would follow Him is “the essence of all highest duty, the meaning of a true life, is found in the law of Self-Sacrifice.

            What was so difficult for these disciples to accept? (and many of us as well) First, that their perfect leader should suffer and die. But more, that His followers must bear a cross themselves. (According to Luke, this would be a daily occurrence.)

            Paul echoes these sentiments in Romans 12:1-2 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

          Rick Warren says the problem with living sacrifices is that they keep crawling off the altar. Peter and the others weren’t even prepared to crawl onto the altar in the first place.

Q:      Why would Jesus place this requirement upon his followers?

A:       1. If you want to be resurrected, you have to die first.

          2. To hang on to this life is to surrender eternal life.

                    There is no comparison between the two.

Quotes on taking up our cross:

- Those who enter into discipleship enter into Jesus’ death. They turn their living into dying; such has been the case from the very beginning. The cross is not the terrible end of a pious, happy life. Instead, it stands at the beginning of community with Jesus Christ. Whenever Christ calls us, his call leads us to death.

- How should disciples know what their cross is? They will receive it when they begin to follow the suffering Lord. They will recognize their cross in communion with Jesus.

- Discipleship in essence never consists in a decision for this or that specific action; it is always a decision for or against Jesus Christ.

CONCLUSION:

          Each of us has a decision to make.

Save my life that ends so quickly

Or

Save my soul which lasts forever.

QUESTIONS FOR CONSIDERATION

1. When have you ever doubted the words of Jesus?

2. In what ways has Christ rebuked you in the past?

3. Why does Christ ask us to “deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow” Him?

4. What does it mean to deny yourself?

5. What does it mean to take up your cross?

6. What does it mean to follow Christ?